Welcome to another great semester!

Physicists aren't satisfied just knowing how things work. We want to know why, as well. Our department exists to improve peoples' lives by giving them the tools to answer their whys.

We've been pretty successful, too. Over the past 5 years, we've increased freshmen enrollments in the major by 50% and degree completions by 46%. Last year, 70% of our graduates worked within one of our research labs and 30% co-authored published scientific papers while at UNO. (Read below about Jaidyn Spoon's recent publication.) We're the college's 3rd highest producer of research grants per capita, with $3.2M in awards and 42 faculty and student publications over the past 5 years. 

We're excited for the future, too. In January, the department will move into 4,096 sq. ft. of newly renovated space dedicated explicitly to physics, with 1,703 sq. ft. of refreshed research labs to support our students creating innovations in biophysics and materials physics. Our intro courses are moving into new space that facilitates an evidence-based "studio physics" model shown to improve learning. Our upper-level courses will move into a remodeled studio classroom with technology allowing seamless transitions from problem-solving, computation, and experimentation.

We're going to have a great semester and a better year. Think about your big "why" questions, and then demand that we help you find the answers!

Chris Moore

Chair, Physics Department

Physics and Pizza

Sept. 1st, 12-1 PM, DSC 111

Is the "fined-tuned universe" an illusion? We'll discuss this question and how particles explain the universe with physicist Steven Weinberg. We'll also have FREE pizza!

SPS Meet-and-Greet

Sept. 8th, 12 PM, Elmwood Park

Join the Society of Physics students in Elmwood park for a meet-and-greet pot-luck. Bring some food to share and hang out with your fellow physics students and faculty.

HS Physics Teacher Summer Workshop

This summer,15 high school physics teachers from 4 states joined us for 2 weeks to learn about evidence-based teaching in physics, earning up to 5 hours of graduate credit. Research shows that a major contributing factor to a student's decision to major in physics is a high-quality high school physics teacher. Supporting these great teachers creates massive long-term impact, while simultaneously creating ambassadors to UNO Physics. We also had fun playing with toys!

This year's workshop was made possible by two of our dual-enrollment teachers and leaders in the local physics teacher community: Westside's Judy Stucky and Millard North's Philip Manley.

Physics Major Publishes

Are trains causing issues with LIGO gravitational wave detectors? Senior physics major Jaidyn Spoon was co-author on a paper recently accepted in the journal Classical and Quantum Gravity. UNO physics majors have impact on the field before graduation!

Have an event that you would like to share with the rest of the physics program? An announcement or student spotlight? Let us know.

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